HEALTH SECURITY EFFORTS AND PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO CURB CORONAVIRUS BY MINISTRY OF INTERIOR

The Ministry of Interior has worked tirelessly with precision to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.  All the concerned departments have made sure that all rules and regulations are followed and all safety guidelines are followed throughout the country.

To further on this,  Lt. Col. Nayef Bin Faleh Al Thani, the Director of Al-Fazaa said, we are facing an exceptional case that does not bear any kind of negligence. He added that we all need to be  firm in preventing the spread of the virus.  

Al Fazaa Police have fully activated their capabilities. All officers as well as individuals have been trained to deal with the situations of Corona virus affected cases along with any other public issues. This has been achieved by increasing the number of patrols operating in the field, protection of all quarantine sites identified by the MoH to receive positive cases or suspected cases.

They have also taken over the task of securing closed parts of the Industrial Area over 24 hours. Additionally, patrols are deployed in all areas of the country to monitor compliance with the instructions issued by the competent authorities not to gather in public places and in Majlis, and to close the shops covered by the closure decision.

Lt. Col. Nayef Bin Faleh Al Thani has further clarified that officers and police at the Al Fazaa are aware of the dangers they face in the field. The patrols are not confined to following up the procedures and decisions issued by the concerned authorities to limit the spread of the virus, but it also contributes to public awareness by providing direct advice and guidance to the public. It also deals firmly with anyone who violates relevant decisions that require quarantine whether in state-defined health facilities or in home quarantine.

In order to implement these precautionary measures, the Al Fazaa Police has deployed checkpoints throughout the country. These have deployed with aim of providing more protection to the community against the risk of the spread of the virus and to avoid the risk of infection by members of the community.

The Director of the Al-Najda Police Department confirmed that there is a complete cooperation between the Department and Hamad Medical Corporation and all the field organizations, as the patrols are the first to respond to all reports. The operation of the patrols in the current crisis did not affect its main duties in keeping the security and stability of the society. It has become fully operational and has increased the number of its field patrols, he added.

He praised the strong response of citizens and residents to all the guidelines and advice for the protection against the spread of the virus and added that society’s contribution in fighting Corona is the best way to get rid of this virus.

On his part, Lt. Col. Jabr Ali Al-Kubaisi, Assistant Director of Patrol and Traffic Investigation Department of the General Directorate of Traffic, noted that since the beginning of the crisis, the Patrol Department has provided round-the-clock support to all relevant departments of the Ministry of Interior such as the Al Fazaa, the Capital Security Department and security departments in external areas and the Establishments and Authorities Security Department.

Efforts to secure street and road traffic, advice and guidance to vehicle drivers were consolidated through the official-specified follow-up and inspection points, with the purpose of educating road users to stay in their homes to maintain their safety and support the state’s efforts in confronting this global pandemic.

Accompanying buses and vehicles related to the crisis, such as buses from the airport to quarantine or from quarantine to hospitals, was another important duty of the Patrols, as well as supporting and participating in the patrols of Al Fazaa and the Establishments Security, in securing roads and intersections going to and coming from the Industrial Area (1) to (32), in order to be a precaution against breaches of the relevant decisions.

The Assistant Director of the Traffic Patrol Department also pointed the movement of patrols within the regions to follow up on the implementation of the decisions of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management, on working hours the shops, and informing the Operations of the violators in support to the role of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in this regard.

He added that the duty of monitoring the hotels allocated for quarantine is distributed among the departments including Traffic patrols, Establishments Security Department and Al Fazaa. Cars and trucks are prevented from entering the surrounding area, except for those authorized by the security department such as food cars or logistics and ambulance support.

Lt. Col. Al-Kubaisi pointed to the lack of traffic flow on the roads that reduced precisely the number of road accidents. This is an indication of the commitment of citizens and residents to the precautionary measures and preventive decisions of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management, and the effectiveness and impact of the awareness campaigns carried out.